Vacuum cleaner



Emmy W, Wfi%u v s. McCLATCHHE LVMAW VACUUM CLEANER Filed March 15. 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet l MW fifi, Wm. g, MCCLATCHIE LTZL45 VACUUM CLEANER Filed March 15, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 WMWIJLJH van for,

gether,

Patented July 16, T9129.

TENT FFTCE.

STANLEY IVICCLA'ICHIE, OF STUTTGART, GERMANY, ASSIGNOR TO THE APEX ELEC- TRICAL MANUFACTURDTG COMPANY, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

Application filed March 13, 1924, Serial No.

This invention relates to portable vacuum cleaners, and has for its main object the provision of a particularly light, simple and inexpensive motor-driven cleaner of a distinctly novel type, which can be carried about and manipulated in a different manner and "operated more readily and effectively than other previously known types. Further objects and advantages will become apparent as the description proceeds.

As is well known, port-able electric vacuum cleaners in general consist essentially of four parts, motor, fan, dust receptacle, and cleaning tool or nozzle. The first three of these parts are practically invariably grouped toand for convenience will here be collectively designated as the powenplant. The power-plant may either be rigidly attached to the cleaning nozzle, so as to be moved with it at every movement and stroke, or a length of flexible hose may be interposed between plant and nozzle, in such a manner as to relieve the operator in cleaning of the necessarily heavy weight and considerable bulk of the power-plant. The use of a flexible hose has obviously great advantages. For cleaning upholstery, hangings, et cetera, the hose is practically indispensable, and in floor clean- CEO ing it considerably facilitates operation. However, the disposal of the power-plant has offered a very difficult problem in machines of the hose type. @110 manner of handling this problem has been to hang the powerplant from the operators shoulder. This is such an obstruction and inconvenience for the operator that the method has found only very limited application. The usual way of disposing of the problem has been to let the power-plant rest on the floor. Cleaners thus disposed have had the power-plant mounted either on wheels or in a container provided with a flat bottom to rest directly on the floor. The machine is intended to remain sitting in a fixed upright position, until picked up by a handle specially provided and set down elsewhere. In order to obtain a reasonable operating radius, a long hose is generally provided; this is naturally bothersome, as well as a source of considerable frictional losses with consequent drop in vacuum. The most serious disadvantage, however, is that the power-plant must be madevery heavy in order to avoid upsetting by the hose. The

VACUUM CLEANER.

698,951, and in'Germany September 24, 1921.

twisting, turning and pulling of the hose inspite of the advantages otherwise attaching to cleaning with a nozzle freed of the encumbrance of the power-plant. Machines of the rigid type have become well-known under the form of the common bag-and-handle, carpet-sweeper variety of vacuum cleaner. These may be made comparatively light, but still, the extra weight and bulk to be continuously shoved about in the cleaning operation is a considerable inconvenience. Moreover, the cleaning of upholstery, hangings, et cetera, with such machines is practicable only by connecting up an accessory hose and nozzle generally supplied extra for the )urpose. This change-over from floor to upliolstery cleaning is a troublesome operation.

The present invention concerns mainly a vacuum cleaner of the hose type, but the power-plant is so disposed and the general design is such as to make possible an extremely light, simple, and efficient construction. In the drawings accompanying and forming a part of this application I have shown certain forms in which my inventive ideas may be embodied. Fig. 1 is a side elevation, partly in section, of a preferred form of power-plant for my improved cleaner; Fig. 2 shows a blowerattachment device; Fig. 3 isa top view of a part of the device shown in Fig. 1; Figs. 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9 illustrate the manner of using'my cleaner in its preferred form; and Figs. 10 and 11 are side elevations of some modified forms in which certain features of my invention may be embodied.

I prefer to make my power-plant with a casing symmetrical about a longitudinal axis and divided into two chambers by a centrally apertured transverse diaphragm, one of the chambers containing the dust receptacle and the other the fan and motor. A suction hose is axially attached to the dust chamber: The machine is intended to lie on its side and to roll about freely on the floor, following with a minimum of resistance the movements of the hose. In the preferred form shown in Fig. 1 ofthe drawings, .the dust chamber is formed like a covered bowl, the bottom of whi h constitutesthe diaphragm dividing the W0 chambers. This bottom 3 of the dust cham r is provided with a central aperture 4 for the inlet of air to the fan in the motor chamber. Below this bottom is a motor supporting frame comprising a cylindrical ring 6 having projecting legs 7 terminating in feet 8 fastened to the bottom by screws 9. This frame also comprises end members 1010 in which is journaled the armature shaft, while field members 11 are carried by the ring 6. Secured to the shaft is an exhaust fan comprising a hub 12, a circular disc 13 and a plurality of blades 14 the disk cooperating with the conical portion 5 of the bottom 3 to define a chamber which is tapered from within outwardly, the fan blades being similarly tapered. The casing 16 forms the sides and bottom of the motor chamber. It may be made of sheet aluminum and held in place by an inner flange l7 engaging between the feet 8 and the bottom 3. On the lower part of the casing 16 is a bead 15 which serves to protect this part against indentation and also to hold certain other parts in place, as will hereinafter appear. A switch 18 of the pull-chain type is mounted in the upper part of the casing 16 by means of screws 19. The pull arm 20 of this switch is attached by means of the wire or cord 21 to the sleeve 22. This sleeve reciprocates in the bushing 23 which is attached to the casing 16. The cord 24 conveying current to the motor is cemented in the sleeve 22. The way in which the switch is operated is shown in Fig. 8. With one foot on the cord the operator pulls on the hose. By the tension thus imparted to the cord the sleeve 22 is ought downwards, carrying with it the switch arm 20 and bringing the well-known ratchet mechanism of the pull switch into play. By simply drawing the electric cord taut as indicated, the motor is alternately turned on and off. It is advantageous to bring out the cord at a reentrant-portion of the casing, as indicated in the drawing, in order to avoid injury to the same. Apertures 25 are provided in the bottom part of the casing 16 for the egress of air from the fan. d

An attachment device 26 for blowing purposes is provided. This is provided with a hollow rubber ring 27 held in place by the spring ring 28. By grasping the handle portion 29 the rubber ring is forced over the bead 15. The end of the hose which otherwise serves for dust sucking is then screwed into the threaded portion 30. The appearance of the assembly for blowing purposes is indicated in Fig. 5. The attachment is held quite securely in place by the cooperation of the rubber ring with the head 15, and;

Fig. 6. It is prevented from slipping off by 5 the bead 15. The end of the cord may be secured by a simple tie-loop. When released, the cord uncoils automatically, as shown in Fig. 7. v

The casing 1 of the dust chamber may be made in two parts, preferably of sheet aluminum, spun together at the bead 31. The o nt may be rendered air-tight by smearing with white-lead, or some similar substance, before the head is finally spun over. the casing is a wire basket 32, spaced from the sides and bottom thereof, and here shown as supported by a wire rim 33 engaging in the head 31. This basket is put in place before the two halves of the casing 1 are spun to-- Located inside is prevented from slipping out by the seam 37.

The rubber ring 35 is arranged to fit quite snugly into the cover 38, so that when the latter is removed the bag is lifted out at the same time. The dirt is then shaken down onto the cover as appears in Fig. 4; the bag is separated from the cover only after the dirt has been thoroughly loosened from its sides and shaken down. When the cover is finally pulled away, the dirt falls out in a pile, and the operator is spared the unpleasantness of the flying dust generally incident to shaking down a dust-bag. The rubber ring also fits snugly against the casing rim 2, so asto render the joint between cover and casing airtight. The cover is guided laterallyby the rim 2, and is held down by the catches 39 and 40 hearing on the rim 41. The catch 39 is threaded onto the screw 42 which is secured to the casing. This catch is released by turning in a counter-clockwise direction, as is made clearby the Fig. 3. As soon as the catch 39 is released, the cover may be tipped up and the rim 41' disengaged from the fixed catch 40. Formed in'the middle of the cover is a threaded portion 43, provided with a bottoming flange 44. Into this portion is screwed one.

for the reception of the rigid tube 47 reaching down to the floor-nozzle 48. The nozzles I mane-ea I forms v bodied, it is obviousthat, there are many other 1 because, of the tact'that' it assumes convenient position for emptyin the dust bag it presents the fit on'the ends of the'tuhe 47. i

While it have she'wn certain preferred in which my invention may be emways in which my inventive ideas may be practically carried out, and ltdo not at all restrict myself to the particulartorms shown and described. I have indicated in Figs. 10 and 11 certain iillu'strative' designs tor the power-plant. Fi substantiall cylindrical form having the hose carrie out throughone of its ends, and Fig. 11 illustrates a powerlimit with a cusing having a broad, roundedb ottom adapted'to tip about indiscriminately. Ef'f However, i prefer-the shape shown a more glenient angle and rollsmorereadily upon the cor, as the convenience with which a blowing attachment can 'be amxed and'the diiiere'ntparts fastened and securedtogether. if

- The general manner 'ofhandlingmy new type out cleaner inits preferred form is shown in Figs;- 6 to 9.

being carried in ioruse, Fig: 'l'the oordbeingl uncoiled, Fig. 8 the current being turned on I by pulling on the cord-operated switch,'an'd- F1g.'9"'thc 'powersplant'being laid on-its side.

, the power- As appears from the' drawin plant is arranged to be carried, set-down,

iclred lip-and generally ose, which acts as its sole handler The .hose is always within thef-operator sgrasp,

and he is thus able to manage" the ma-, chine entirely without stooping. ,Further, the

powerplant is arranged to tip urn,'fglide,

and rollabcuton the'floor-soifas'to follow automatically all the movements ofthe open ator and to yield to the natural twisting and pulling tendencies of the hose. The 'users entire attention may be given to the manipulation of the nozzle, which can 'be'made extremely light. The hose need be only five or six feet long, With the preferred construction which have .shown,} the complete poweieplant need 'weigh'no more than five pounds. Where own against theJmovements-of; the operatorand the' ltwisting t the simple, eilicient, cheap; 10 illustrates a casing of in ri as well as tor-certain minor reasons such Fig-Gallows thefmachine V vacuum cleaner comprising, in comgbination," a hose,

manipulated by the a the, plant risto hold its hose, as in other cleaners of the hose type, thispart must weigh at least fifteen or twenty pounds, and is generally made even much heavier in practice. Moreover, a hose ten or fifteen feet long is required to give a reasonable operating radius, which adds further to the weight and cumbersomeness and diminishes the efficiency. The rime novel features which make possible t e extremely light, and convenient con struction herein set forth are the symmetrical structure, the adaption to tip and lie on the side, the employment of the hose as the carrying handle, and the rounded contour oi the surface which rests on the floor.

Havin h thus described my invention, what claim is: v

l. A. vacuum cleaner comprising a hose, a

" fsuction tool at one end there0f, a casing seas shown in 4 and becaus'eo the fact that .ose at a morev directand con-v cured to the other-end thereof so as to be carcasing, and a suction device between said bag and motor and communicating with said hose f through said bag, said casingbein exteriorly "rounded so as'to turn, tip, .vaccommodate itself to the movements of the and r0 1 bodily to hose a hollow casing secured to tltllfllelldtzmf said hose and having an enlargemeat at the end from which the hose projects,

a dust bag in said enlar ement and communieating with the hose, a an and motor in said casin and a working tool at the other endpt said cse, said casing shaped to rollbodlly onthe floor while the cleaner is in use and said hose constituting the handle for said casing.: 3, it vacuum cleaner comprising a hose and a'casing formed as a surface of revolution about-an axis said hose being attached to and 7 smaller Mecnarcnrn.

lntestimony whereof, hereunto aihx my #signature communicating withwsaid casing concen- 

